Are you a business owner? I suspect not, and here's why:
First, Blizz wants to keep people playing. If it's not fun (define fun....?) they won't. So, buying your way to the top is easy gratification and people would get bored pretty fast. I guarantee you Blizz/Activision are WAY smarter than that (they're paid to be, it's why they have a company that's profitable! I get a little worn of anti-success sentiment around here). They want to find ways to keep people interested/having fun, they have to or all those years and money sunk into it will be wasted. ATVI shareholders would NOT like that.
Second, any company has to continue to make profits by looking to what people want. It's why someone saw the local neighborhood kid mowing lawns and thought "Hey, I'll bet I could add that service to my home/garden business!" There is CLEARLY a market for buying items, so for Blizzard not to incorporate that is FOOLISH in a business sense. Absolutely idiotic, highest order. They're CATERING TO THEIR MARKET. What's the quote? That no one was ever poor for giving people what they want?
Now, it may be morally reprehensible to you, you may be jealous that others have money they can blow on online toys, or maybe you're longing for the "good old days". People don't handle change well, especially to things to which they're emotionally attached (that includes me). S'Cool, bro;-)
Some might agree with you that the "fun" will be curtailed, and maybe those people won't play, but what IS fun anyway? Anticipation? Clicking for hours/days/weeks/months until you get some text on a screen that makes you guy kill stuff faster? Come on, who but those of college age or younger have or even WANT to spend that kind of time? If I have a couple extra bucks, of course I might consider buying some upgrades or a cool outfit... wouldn't you? Instead of spending endless hours farming a boss, you can monetize that time and tell Blizzard/other players what it's worth to you.
I'm certain there will be stuff you can only get in the game and can't sell. That's the way WoW is because Activision wants people to keep playing.
To piggy-back on Yosho's comment, Blizzard is actually not holding BlizzCon this year because they've said they're just too busy.
The new WoW expansion is coming out soon (on the order of months we're thinking), Diablo 3 lands in May, and SC2 expansion in the fall(?). They're going frickin' crazy trying to make each of these really good and really on time, so not seeing PvP (not the majority of players one suspects) in there seems ok to me, but clearly others don't feel that way.
Frankly, anything can be boiled down to a basic, boring, easy component. Basketball "is just bouncing a rubber all, no skill!" and programming "is just telling the computer what you want it to with text, so easy!" As a WoW player myself I have to wonder if you've ever played the game. Leveling is pretty easy, yeah, and mostly about story, 1-2-3-4 keying, and exploration than difficulty, while the end game raiding is VERY much about skill, communication, and strategy between players and with key presses/optimization.
I feel like your sentiment could be an easy cover for an underlying idea you want to express. Perhaps that you find obsessive WoW playing onerous? That's a fair sentiment. Perhaps the whole notion of paying per month bothers you? Ok. Maybe you're just jealous that Blizzard got big or think big companies can't deliver a good product? Anti-Capitalism (of a sort) is rampant around here and I don't fault you for feeling that way. Whatever the idea is then your opinion and feelings are fine, but using what amounts to ignorance as an argument against Blizzard games/WoW when ALL games are effectively JUST like what you're talking about seems less intellectually rigorous than it could be.
That's "King Rahm" to you, pleb! Now get back to the salt mines.
Re:Nice upgrade, but no big surprises in the new i
on
Apple Unveils New iPad
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· Score: 1
Given all the people I've talked to who bought a DSLR because their friends did (status symbol), and then promptly left it in a closet after 6 months, I'd say there are a lot of them. "Serious cash" to some people is not "serious cash" to others.
Look, the economic numbers, unfortunately, ARE pretty rigged. You have wallstreet analysts and economists looking at each other going,"Um, where did these huge profit numbers come from? We can't figure it out, can you?"
It's rigged because that's the best the government can do to prop up a very broken system, corrupt as it is. It's another bubble, and when this pops it's likely to get interesting.
I don't think it's Obama's fault, though he shares some blame. Money hasn't gone where it needed to, America did not go through a massive investment in its infrastructure, it went through an enormous corporate handout. That's coming home to roost.
The fault? It lies with Nixon, Reagan, Bushie 1, Clinton, Bushie 2 (more than anybody perhaps), and Obama doesn't have the cajones to stand up and try to stop a careening boulder that's likely to squish America at some point.
Upon listening, I find his arguments FULL of holes. While I respect what he is saying, more discussion should be done before completely panicking.
Oil: problem. Human growth: not according to stats I've seen. Exponential.... he completely ignores market forces, that as need rises, price goes up and people are more efficient or find new ways to do things. Economy: Yes, it's a problem. However, not an unsolvable one. I, too, am quite worried, but it's not doomsday. It might be bad for a while, but it'll get better.
Hey, maybe you got burned badly in the past (and I share your ire for many lawyers, docs, and accountants) but SOME of us professionals work our asses off to balance out the laziness of the other 95% (Financial Advisor here, and boy is it ever hellishly tough).
Also, I like to get PAID for putting up with such an incredible amount of uncertainty and difficulty, so excuse me while I charge a $1000 or more a year for advice plus investment fees. I'm worth it, and so is my advice (and with all the compliance out there I'm STILL half broke and running my ass into the ground).
Frankly? I'd be better off being lazy and unattentive, shuffling people through like an assembly line. Most of the other advisors I know in my metropolitan area have all had to do it (from UBS, to Edward Jones, to Ameriprise, to LPL, and especially the "independent" ones), and it's a real shame because people deserve better.
And NO, people are NOT equipped to do it on their own reliably. Don't believe the hype.
Intentional!?!?!? That is why we have the Letter of the Law. When people break crimes, many of them rationalize it while they do it, it is NOT intentional, from murder to parking illegally or speeding. Their INTENT is not bad in their mind, but their actions do break the law. Spirit of the law is of course important, but there needs to be a line.
"Making a ticket proportional to wealth is just discrimination. I hate it when people just want to penalize the rich for "being" rich. It's stupid and disingenuous to the debate over traffic safety."
How is this +5!?!?!?!?
Discrimination, and then suddenly 10 hours of community service? The average poorer person would be FUCKED having to do that. The average wealthy person can just take a day or two off and not be missed at the office.
You're merely shifting the penalty, not making it nondiscriminatory. In fact, ability to pay WOULD be less discriminatory.
And what's even more shameful is not enough of us are talking about it in public to get a dialog going so we can dismiss the yahoos perpetrating it. Make THEM scared, the Founding Fathers were pointed about that one.
Who is modding these up? Also, how incredibly naive do you have to be, parent and great-grandparent? If it's rape in Sweden, why extradition to U.S.? Sounds shady. It also appears to be a trumped-up charge, why would the U.S. bother? I'll bet this stuff happens ALL the time, but is there a sealed indictment locked and loaded already? No. That's not really a conspiracy, it's directly pointing to someone looking VERY HARD for a reason to put this guy in jail. Um... this is what politics is about. Look at this hand, pay no attention to what the other is doing.
"In this particular case, I see little reason not to extradite. His actions would be illegal pretty much everywhere, which is one major factor to the extradition process. " You start off with a whole mess of speculation, based on NO credentials, and build your post from there! How was THIS mod'd +5 insightful (yes, I know HOW)?
Ok, then take ME to court too, and everyone else who ever had a copy of this, read it, talked about it, discussed it on TV, radio, or any other medium. We're ALL complicit! We worked with every one of them! We collaborated over the internet to undermine the United Corporations of America! How DARE we exercise our rights to sunder a government gone mad!? The nerve!
I can hear the Nixon in all you securo-nuts now, who never got enough hugs as children, "They're ALL complicit.... WE JUST HAVE TO PROVE IT! We'll drag them all into a cold little cell and beat them until they confess.... or... or... waaaaaaait.... yeeeees..... let's just ANALYZE their behavior and decide arbitrarily (though we'll tell ourselves it's based on "science") that they are "acting suspiciously" and are obviously guilty so we just need to twist the letter of the law so we can bag them. ALL OF THEM! EVERY LAST ONE! SAFETY! SECURITY!"
Do they even hear themselves? Have they never read ANYTHING about Richard Nixon? I personally am more than willing to give them lots of hugs and affection, let them know that they're Good Enough, but trying TOO HARD to over-achieve, thinking they're so special and awesome and worthy of everything they desire. Like Richard M. Nixon: His ego and paranoid lust for power, unchecked and unconsidered, led to his demise.... he never knew when enough was enough, just like the people in Washington right now, the Banks and CEOs, or the squealing gruel-smeared porkers at Old Country Buffet.
If Assange is guilty then so is everyone, and it's just a matter of time until they come for you, too. How much is enough security? You know how this game works, right? People keep locking everyone else out until there's one Big Honcho at the top, and a bazillion serfs under him who've all been fucked over who up and cut the guy's head off (or worse). That is the end game Big Government/Corps are playing because they didn't pay attention in kindergarten: Learn to share (information, wealth, prosperity, rights, and not just the red dumptruck in Mrs. Johnson's class)
Again, do you not listen? Letter vs Spirit. Make everything classified and all releases are espionage.
The government is holding down a crying, whimpering Constitution and Bill of Rights as it forcefully plunges its throbbing, engorged member into the vaginal canal of Liberty in broad daylight on a crowded street where no one will stand up to stop the crude fucker.
I challenge you to make a better argument than your first few, sir.
When people break the law in order to uphold issues paranoia, political gaffs, and oil buddies butt-fucking America's future til it bleeds, then cover up the evidence by making it "classified", it's still illegal.
Slashdot Mirror
Are you a business owner? I suspect not, and here's why:
First, Blizz wants to keep people playing. If it's not fun (define fun....?) they won't. So, buying your way to the top is easy gratification and people would get bored pretty fast. I guarantee you Blizz/Activision are WAY smarter than that (they're paid to be, it's why they have a company that's profitable! I get a little worn of anti-success sentiment around here). They want to find ways to keep people interested/having fun, they have to or all those years and money sunk into it will be wasted. ATVI shareholders would NOT like that.
Second, any company has to continue to make profits by looking to what people want. It's why someone saw the local neighborhood kid mowing lawns and thought "Hey, I'll bet I could add that service to my home/garden business!" There is CLEARLY a market for buying items, so for Blizzard not to incorporate that is FOOLISH in a business sense. Absolutely idiotic, highest order. They're CATERING TO THEIR MARKET. What's the quote? That no one was ever poor for giving people what they want?
Now, it may be morally reprehensible to you, you may be jealous that others have money they can blow on online toys, or maybe you're longing for the "good old days". People don't handle change well, especially to things to which they're emotionally attached (that includes me). S'Cool, bro ;-)
Some might agree with you that the "fun" will be curtailed, and maybe those people won't play, but what IS fun anyway? Anticipation? Clicking for hours/days/weeks/months until you get some text on a screen that makes you guy kill stuff faster? Come on, who but those of college age or younger have or even WANT to spend that kind of time? If I have a couple extra bucks, of course I might consider buying some upgrades or a cool outfit... wouldn't you?
Instead of spending endless hours farming a boss, you can monetize that time and tell Blizzard/other players what it's worth to you.
I'm certain there will be stuff you can only get in the game and can't sell. That's the way WoW is because Activision wants people to keep playing.
To piggy-back on Yosho's comment, Blizzard is actually not holding BlizzCon this year because they've said they're just too busy.
The new WoW expansion is coming out soon (on the order of months we're thinking), Diablo 3 lands in May, and SC2 expansion in the fall(?). They're going frickin' crazy trying to make each of these really good and really on time, so not seeing PvP (not the majority of players one suspects) in there seems ok to me, but clearly others don't feel that way.
And if my completely disjointed sentences don't throw you off up there, then I offer this apology for such a poorly constructed set of words. Eep.
Frankly, anything can be boiled down to a basic, boring, easy component. Basketball "is just bouncing a rubber all, no skill!" and programming "is just telling the computer what you want it to with text, so easy!"
As a WoW player myself I have to wonder if you've ever played the game. Leveling is pretty easy, yeah, and mostly about story, 1-2-3-4 keying, and exploration than difficulty, while the end game raiding is VERY much about skill, communication, and strategy between players and with key presses/optimization.
I feel like your sentiment could be an easy cover for an underlying idea you want to express. Perhaps that you find obsessive WoW playing onerous? That's a fair sentiment. Perhaps the whole notion of paying per month bothers you? Ok. Maybe you're just jealous that Blizzard got big or think big companies can't deliver a good product? Anti-Capitalism (of a sort) is rampant around here and I don't fault you for feeling that way.
Whatever the idea is then your opinion and feelings are fine, but using what amounts to ignorance as an argument against Blizzard games/WoW when ALL games are effectively JUST like what you're talking about seems less intellectually rigorous than it could be.
The pirate may also one day become a paying customer.
The one who never buys or experiences it will probably never get hooked into the company's product loop.
Clean?
Clean!? HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
The man inherited and continues the same policies that King Daley had, easy as that.
Also, have you SEEN the man? He looks like a ghoul.
Oh... ooooh my. You aren't a Chicagoan, are you? Or are you paid to astroturf for him?
That is some hilarity, buddy.
That's "King Rahm" to you, pleb! Now get back to the salt mines.
Given all the people I've talked to who bought a DSLR because their friends did (status symbol), and then promptly left it in a closet after 6 months, I'd say there are a lot of them. "Serious cash" to some people is not "serious cash" to others.
Look, the economic numbers, unfortunately, ARE pretty rigged. You have wallstreet analysts and economists looking at each other going,"Um, where did these huge profit numbers come from? We can't figure it out, can you?"
It's rigged because that's the best the government can do to prop up a very broken system, corrupt as it is. It's another bubble, and when this pops it's likely to get interesting.
I don't think it's Obama's fault, though he shares some blame. Money hasn't gone where it needed to, America did not go through a massive investment in its infrastructure, it went through an enormous corporate handout. That's coming home to roost.
The fault? It lies with Nixon, Reagan, Bushie 1, Clinton, Bushie 2 (more than anybody perhaps), and Obama doesn't have the cajones to stand up and try to stop a careening boulder that's likely to squish America at some point.
Republicrats, Republicrats, Republicrats.
Sounds like the viruses discovered...
Maiden! Maiden! Maiden!
Never in a thousand years thought I'd have a reason to write that on slashdot.
Upon listening, I find his arguments FULL of holes. While I respect what he is saying, more discussion should be done before completely panicking.
Oil: problem.
Human growth: not according to stats I've seen.
Exponential.... he completely ignores market forces, that as need rises, price goes up and people are more efficient or find new ways to do things.
Economy: Yes, it's a problem. However, not an unsolvable one. I, too, am quite worried, but it's not doomsday. It might be bad for a while, but it'll get better.
They won't, but the shareholders will be PISSED.
Hey, maybe you got burned badly in the past (and I share your ire for many lawyers, docs, and accountants) but SOME of us professionals work our asses off to balance out the laziness of the other 95% (Financial Advisor here, and boy is it ever hellishly tough).
Also, I like to get PAID for putting up with such an incredible amount of uncertainty and difficulty, so excuse me while I charge a $1000 or more a year for advice plus investment fees. I'm worth it, and so is my advice (and with all the compliance out there I'm STILL half broke and running my ass into the ground).
Frankly? I'd be better off being lazy and unattentive, shuffling people through like an assembly line. Most of the other advisors I know in my metropolitan area have all had to do it (from UBS, to Edward Jones, to Ameriprise, to LPL, and especially the "independent" ones), and it's a real shame because people deserve better.
And NO, people are NOT equipped to do it on their own reliably. Don't believe the hype.
"...and have brought themselves many miniseries."
You mean like Donald Trump?
Intentional!?!?!? That is why we have the Letter of the Law. When people break crimes, many of them rationalize it while they do it, it is NOT intentional, from murder to parking illegally or speeding. Their INTENT is not bad in their mind, but their actions do break the law. Spirit of the law is of course important, but there needs to be a line.
"Making a ticket proportional to wealth is just discrimination. I hate it when people just want to penalize the rich for "being" rich. It's stupid and disingenuous to the debate over traffic safety."
How is this +5!?!?!?!?
Discrimination, and then suddenly 10 hours of community service? The average poorer person would be FUCKED having to do that. The average wealthy person can just take a day or two off and not be missed at the office.
You're merely shifting the penalty, not making it nondiscriminatory. In fact, ability to pay WOULD be less discriminatory.
And what's even more shameful is not enough of us are talking about it in public to get a dialog going so we can dismiss the yahoos perpetrating it. Make THEM scared, the Founding Fathers were pointed about that one.
Who is modding these up?
Also, how incredibly naive do you have to be, parent and great-grandparent?
If it's rape in Sweden, why extradition to U.S.? Sounds shady. It also appears to be a trumped-up charge, why would the U.S. bother? I'll bet this stuff happens ALL the time, but is there a sealed indictment locked and loaded already? No. That's not really a conspiracy, it's directly pointing to someone looking VERY HARD for a reason to put this guy in jail.
Um... this is what politics is about. Look at this hand, pay no attention to what the other is doing.
"In this particular case, I see little reason not to extradite. His actions would be illegal pretty much everywhere, which is one major factor to the extradition process. "
You start off with a whole mess of speculation, based on NO credentials, and build your post from there! How was THIS mod'd +5 insightful (yes, I know HOW)?
Ok, then take ME to court too, and everyone else who ever had a copy of this, read it, talked about it, discussed it on TV, radio, or any other medium. We're ALL complicit! We worked with every one of them! We collaborated over the internet to undermine the United Corporations of America! How DARE we exercise our rights to sunder a government gone mad!? The nerve!
I can hear the Nixon in all you securo-nuts now, who never got enough hugs as children, "They're ALL complicit.... WE JUST HAVE TO PROVE IT! We'll drag them all into a cold little cell and beat them until they confess.... or... or... waaaaaaait.... yeeeees..... let's just ANALYZE their behavior and decide arbitrarily (though we'll tell ourselves it's based on "science") that they are "acting suspiciously" and are obviously guilty so we just need to twist the letter of the law so we can bag them. ALL OF THEM! EVERY LAST ONE! SAFETY! SECURITY!"
Do they even hear themselves? Have they never read ANYTHING about Richard Nixon? I personally am more than willing to give them lots of hugs and affection, let them know that they're Good Enough, but trying TOO HARD to over-achieve, thinking they're so special and awesome and worthy of everything they desire. Like Richard M. Nixon: His ego and paranoid lust for power, unchecked and unconsidered, led to his demise.... he never knew when enough was enough, just like the people in Washington right now, the Banks and CEOs, or the squealing gruel-smeared porkers at Old Country Buffet.
If Assange is guilty then so is everyone, and it's just a matter of time until they come for you, too. How much is enough security? You know how this game works, right? People keep locking everyone else out until there's one Big Honcho at the top, and a bazillion serfs under him who've all been fucked over who up and cut the guy's head off (or worse). That is the end game Big Government/Corps are playing because they didn't pay attention in kindergarten: Learn to share (information, wealth, prosperity, rights, and not just the red dumptruck in Mrs. Johnson's class)
Again, do you not listen? Letter vs Spirit. Make everything classified and all releases are espionage.
The government is holding down a crying, whimpering Constitution and Bill of Rights as it forcefully plunges its throbbing, engorged member into the vaginal canal of Liberty in broad daylight on a crowded street where no one will stand up to stop the crude fucker.
I challenge you to make a better argument than your first few, sir.
Again, letter vs spirit of the law.
When people break the law in order to uphold issues paranoia, political gaffs, and oil buddies butt-fucking America's future til it bleeds, then cover up the evidence by making it "classified", it's still illegal.
Letter vs Spirit of the law.
If you make everything classified, nothing can be distributed without it being "espionage" or "treason".
What's a Strat 'fer?